Friends cycle 130km to site of Canada’s future Temple

As momentum builds around the historic task of raising up a National House of Worship in Canada, two friends and cycling enthusiasts set out on an ambitious journey.

At the break of dawn, the pair set off on their bikes from the Kitchener-Waterloo area.

On May 19, Leonard Shushan and Peter van Driel, both from the Kitchener-Waterloo area in Ontario, biked 130 kilometres from their homes to the site of the future Temple in Markham, Ont. Mr. Shushan shared, “We are both excited that Canada is getting its own Temple and wanted to do something that will raise awareness and encourage Baha’is to support the Temple in accordance with their means.”

The pair left in the dark at 5 a.m., meeting enroute and arriving at the Baha’i National Centre, which is adjacent to the Temple site, just after 3:00p.m. The day was unseasonably cold with winds and rain and contained a 1000 metre incline. On arrival the sun had come out and they were welcomed by a staff member and rewarded with a short tour of the National Centre, where they were also able to refresh themselves. They then proceeded to the Temple site and offered prayers before returning home by bus.

Mr. Shushan (left) and Mr. van Driel (right) minutes after arriving at the Bahá’í National Centre located next to the Temple site in Thornhill, Ont.

Mr. Shushan describes how his annual visits to the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, to participate in the choral festival, have also inspired him. “I have come to understand how important the Wilmette Temple is as an instrument to teach the Faith. I see our own Temple being a similar instrument for teaching. I want people to get excited about our Canadian Temple and that was my goal for the ride.”

Despite noting the “brutal” nature of the ride and weather conditions, Mr. Shushan, who has 45 years of cycling experience, says he cannot wait to take on the journey again.

Mr. van Driel (left) and Mr. Shushan (right) at the site of Canada’s future national House of Worship where they said some prayers alongside a staff member of the Bahá’í National Centre.